Halo 4

[Hero-of-Time]

I feel like they've changed Cortana's face a lot, and not because of the graphical improvements. It does look good though.

 

Yeah, they have. They were on about it in a recent interview saying that Cortana has changed her own appearance.

[Emerald Emblem]

I might have to dust off my Xbox 360 on 6th November.

[Aimless]

Yeah, they have. They were on about it in a recent interview saying that Cortana the team has changed her own appearance to be more effective nerd-bait.

Adjusted to better represent reality.

 

I probably come across as pretty negative about this game, but I am looking forward to it. I'll actually be glad if they switch things up, even if it does seem like they might be taking all the wrong lessons from CoD.

[Shorty]

Yeah agreed on that last point. There are some games that I feel need to mix it up a little to keep it fresh, like the AC games, but there's a right way to go about that. Halo set itself apart from other FPS titles when it arrived. It has a simple, arcadey style that I don't want to see get lost under setpieces and on-rails cutscene type moments.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Shorty

[Murr]

Box art apparently....

 

[Hero-of-Time]

Epic! I would love that as a framed poster.

 

Just yesterday I felt the need to play Halo so I slammed Reach on. I played on the Anniversary map packs that I got with the Halo remake and found myself really enjoying it. It was nice not having people flying around in jet packs or using other power ups. It was just Spartans with their guns, as it should be.

[Daft]

Drool. Maybe my most anticipated game of the year, tbh.

[Hero-of-Time]

Slightly related, Halo maps are cheap this week.

 

Halo Reach

--Anniversary map pack - 600msp (was 1200)

--Defiant map pack - 400msp (was 800)

--Noble map pack - 400msp (was 800)

[Shorty]

*less expensive.

[Hero-of-Time]

A few details about multiplayer and the announcement of the limited edition.

 

Fresh detail on how Halo 4 multiplayer works has made it's way out of Microsoft HQ.

 

As revealed by the publisher earlier today, the UNSC Infinity will serve as the game's multiplayer hub. You'll customise your character and manage your progress through the game's various different modes from the giant ship.

Among the modes on offer is the recently announced Spartan Ops co-op campaign. That will focus on various Infinity crew members and a new team of Spartans called Majestic Squad. New missions will be delivered on a weekly basis, along with regular cinematics offering some background narrative.

"A massive-scale adventure that builds off the Halo 4 story, access to Spartan Ops is included with Halo 4 at no additional charge - effectively delivering two campaign experiences in one game," promised Microsoft's announcement.

 

The game's other competitive modes will collectively be known as War Games and play out on Infinity's combat deck. Microsoft remains tight-lipped on exactly what modes and maps we can expect.

 

You can also expect a new player customisation and progression system that will apparently let you shape your soldier's stats to fit your individual play-style.

 

Microsoft also confirmed details of the $99 Halo 4 limited edition, available for pre-order now. It includes the following extras:

 

War Games map pack access - Access to nine maps across three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox Live.

 

Specialisations - Early access to six Specialisations, available at launch on Xbox LIVE, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career and unlock new customization options. Owners of the Limited Edition get access on launch day, while everyone else has to wait.

 

UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet - This includes an armor customisation schematic, a blueprint of the ship, and "insight into what it means to be one of humanity's finest warriors: the Spartan-IVs".

 

Additional digital content - In-game Spartan-IV armor skin, weapon skin for the Assault Rifle, exclusive in-game emblem, Xbox Live Avatar prop, Xbox Live Avatar Spartan-IV armor set.

 

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Special Edition - An extended 90-minute version of the previously-announced live-action digital series providing backstory leading up to the events of the new game.

 

Exclusive videos - Bonus in-fiction content expanding the characters and stories of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn; Featurette: Bringing Gaming into Reality; Making of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

 

I'm a bit gutted there is no legendary edition. I loved the helmet and statue you got with Halo 3 and Reach.

[Retro_Link]

Gameplay (Stream)

 

[Cube]

Space Pirates! Visors!

 

Although I am glad that the grunts speak English again.

[gaggle64]

There's no getting away from it, there's a copy of Metroid Prime in the office somewhere isn't there? I think bringing some of what that game had over into new games is overdue, but I still can't get enthused about more Halo. Halo 3 was a fitting end and Halo Reach was an ever better wrap up on top of that. Game Over. The End.

[Caris]

I think what 343 is doing with Halo is amazing personally, it feels different yet the same. I do agree the E3 demo has a Metroid feel to it but that's by no means a bad thing as Metroid is awesome and it's also very different to every other shooter on the market.

 

Maybe this is saying too much but I think 343 might actually surpass what Bungie have done.

[The Bard]

The creative director on this had a similar position at Retro studios when they were working on the Prime games. Figures. Personally, this is the first Halo I've been interested/ excited in since the first.

[Daft]

Mmmm, yes, because Metroid is wholly original with its enemy design. Please, they're all derivatives of derivatives.

[Retro_Link]

Mmmm, yes, because Metroid is wholly original with its enemy design. Please, they're all derivatives of derivatives.

That does the Metroid series a huge misjustice.

 

Metroid is one of the most creative and unique series around.

What's similar in other games to Metroids and the Space Pirates/Ridley that were around before the series itself? These 'derivatives of derivatives' likely stemmed from Metroid in the first place.

 

The series has pioneered the way with level design, gameplay, weapon based platforming (morphball/grapple beam), visors etc...

 

I don't mind that this game copies it, like gaggle64 said, it's overdue, and tbh it's made this and the Halo series a much more interesting looking game.

[Daft]

I said 'enemy design' and I certainly didn't limit my derivatives to just the medium of games. No need to be defensive.

[Retro_Link]

I know you said enemy design, I'm not being defensive; I asked you what has Metroid copied Space Pirates/Enemy design from?

[Daft]

I didn't say copied, I said derived and urrm, Alien, Lovecraft, Tron, dinosaurs and insect enemy designs in general. Anyway, this is a pointless discussion. If you think they look like Space Pirates then 343 Industries didn't do a good enough job differentiating themselves and it's a totally fair criticism.

Edited June 6, 2012 by Daft

[Shorty]

I'm sure we all thought of Metroid Prime when we saw that in-game HUD and the heat sensor. But who cares? Metroid Prime is great, Halo is great, I'm sure it will feel much more like the latter than the former. Put the two together and it can only be good. Plus I don't see Metroid Prime 4 on the horizon, do you?

 

I wasn't that excited about Halo 4 until I drew up the comparison.

[Daft]

I thought Reach already 'stole' the HUD.

[retrotowers]

In the mulitplayer video the Spartans look really different. I am unsure of whether this game will be as good as the others. It has taken a lot of things from cod. I really hope this game is good.

[Hero-of-Time]

Limited edition console announced.

 

Microsoft has announced a limited edition Halo 4 console bundle. Available for pre-order now, the bundle includes a copy of the standard edition of Halo 4 and a 320GB system. The system itself has an exclusive Halo design in addition to custom sounds when it’s turned on or when a disc is ejected.

 

The bundle also includes two custom Halo 4 wireless controllers with Halo designs and blue LED lights as well as a black Xbox 360 headset. Players will also receive exclusive Halo 4 downloadable content including a unique armor skin, a unique weapon skin, a unique emblem, matching avatar armor and a unique avatar prop.

 

The bundle is available for pre-order on Microsoft’s online store for $399.99. [update: Looks like the product listing has been removed for now.] Halo 4 will hit stores on November 6th.

 

Looks pretty sweet, although Gaf seem to hate it.

[Murr]